Hierarchical protection of seed data

Abstract

A method for protecting seed data according to an access hierarchy is disclosed. A seed data entity is resolved into a plurality of seed data units each having an associated protection level and customization level. When a request to modify a seed data unit is received, an access level is determined for the request. The seed data is modified in accordance with the request if the access level determined for the request is superior or equal to the protection level of the seed data unit and inferior or equal to the customization level of the seed data unit. If the seed data is modified or replaced, the access level determined for the request is assigned to the customization level of the seed data unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for protecting computer program configuration data according to an access hierarchy, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving a request from a computer-user to modify computer program configuration data;   determining an access level associated with the computer-user;   determining protection levels corresponding to respective portions of the computer program configuration data; and   comparing the access level to each of the protection levels; and   modifying each respective portion of the computer program configuration data if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level corresponding to the respective portion of the computer program configuration data.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of modifying each respective portion of the computer program configuration data if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level comprises the step of modifying one of the respective portions of the computer program configuration data if a numeric value representing the access level is less than or equal to a numeric value representing the protection level corresponding to the one of the respective portions of the computer program configuration data. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the access level of the computer user to indicate a customization level of one of the respective portions of the program configuration data if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level corresponding to the one of the respective portions of the program configuration data. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining an access level of the computer user comprises the step of inspecting a value stored in computer memory. 
     
     
       5. A method for protecting seed data according to an access hierarchy, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: receiving a request to modify seed data;   determining an access level associated with the request;   determining a protection level of the seed data;   determining a customization level of the seed data; and   modifying the seed data according to the request if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level and inferior or equal to the customization level.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of modifying the seed data if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level and inferior or equal to the customization level comprises the step of determining that a numeric value representing the access level is less than or equal to a numeric value representing the protection level and greater than or equal to a numeric value representing the customization level. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of receiving a request to modify seed data comprises the step of receiving data to replace the seed data. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of determining an access level associated with the request comprises the step of receiving a value representing the access level with the data to replace the seed data. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of modifying the seed data comprises the step of replacing the seed data with the data received in the request to modify the seed data. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of determining a protection level of the seed data comprises the step of inspecting a numeric value stored with the seed data. 
     
     
       11. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of sequences of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to protect seed data according to an access hierarchy, said plurality of sequences of instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of: receiving a request to modify seed data;   determining an access level associated with the request;   determining a protection level of the seed data;   determining a customization level of the seed data; and   modifying the seed data according to the request if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level and inferior or equal to the customization level.   
     
     
       12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said step of modifying the seed data if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level and inferior or equal to the customization level comprises the step of determining that a numeric value representing the access level is less than or equal to a numeric value representing the protection level and greater than or equal to a numeric value representing the customization level. 
     
     
       13. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said step of receiving a request to modify seed data comprises the step of receiving data to replace the seed data. 
     
     
       14. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said step of determining an access level associated with the request comprises the step of receiving a value representing the access level with the data to replace the seed data. 
     
     
       15. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said step of determining a protection level of the seed data comprises the step of inspecting a numeric value stored with the seed data. 
     
     
       16. A computer-readable medium having a plurality of sequences of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to protect computer program configuration data according to an access hierarchy, said plurality of sequences of instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of: receiving a request from a computer-user to modify computer program configuration data;   determining an access level associated with the computer-user;   determining protection levels corresponding to respective portions of the computer program configuration data; and   comparing the access level to each of the protection levels; and   modifying each respective portion of the computer program configuration data if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level corresponding to the respective portion of the computer program configuration data.   
     
     
       17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein said step of determining an access level of the computer user comprises the step of inspecting a value stored in computer memory. 
     
     
       18. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and encoding a plurality of sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to protect seed data according to an access hierarchy, said plurality of sequences of instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the steps of: receiving a request to modify seed data;   determining an access level associated with the request;   determining a protection level of the seed data;   determining a customization level of the seed data; and   modifying the seed data according to the request if the access level is superior or equal to the protection level and inferior or equal to the customization level.   
     
     
       19. The computer data signal of claim 18 wherein said step of determining a protection level of the seed data comprises the step of inspecting a numeric value stored with the seed data. 
     
     
       20. A computer comprising: a processor;   a user-input device coupled to said processor; and   a memory coupled to said processor and having stored therein seed data; and   program code which, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to modify said seed data according to an access hierarchy, said program code including sequences of instructions which, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: receiving a request via said user-input device to modify said seed data;   determining an access level associated with said request;   determining a protection level associated with said seed data;   determining a customization level associated with said seed data; and   modifying said seed data according to said request if said access level is superior or equal to said protection level and inferior or equal to said customization level.